Geology of the Griffith Park area, Los Angeles County, California.

Mode of access: Internet.

The geology of Groton State Forest.

Mode of access: Internet.

The geology of the country around Newton Abbot /

"Explanation of sheet 339."

Geology of the tertiary coal basins of Thailand

DUE TO COPYRIGHT RESTRICTIONS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION AT ASTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICES WITH PRIOR ARRANGEMENT

An experimental geochemical characterization analysis of archaeological iron from the contact period of Newfoundland and Labrador

This research uses scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) on cross-sections of iron artifacts sectioned from along shafts to determine the elemental constituents of a collection of Inuit and European artifacts from along the coast of Labrador. Hand-wrought iron nails from early historic period (16th – 18th centuries CE) Inuit sites in Labrador were originally manufactured by and acquired from early whalers and fishers of various European nationalities. The purpose of this research was to assess if the elements in different samples are sufficiently homogeneous to be viable for a provenience analysis to discern which Inuit nails were originally derived from which European groups; the Basque, English or French. The consistent relationships between the geochemical signatures of iron nails found in Inuit sites and historic nails derived from specific European groups could provide insights into the prevalence, activity and the nature of indigenous interactions of different European nationalities in the region over time. The results show that the methods applied to evaluate the geochemistry of the nails was not sufficient to detect meaningful patterns because the nails did not demonstrate the necessary degree of chemical uniformity among different samples in the same artifacts.

Sociophonetic history of Newfoundland English in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador

In this paper, I report on the variety of English spoken in the relatively new community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. The efects of dialect contact and the process of dialect levelling (Trudgill 1986; Britain 1997, Kerswill and Williams 2000; Kerswill 2002) are observed by examining the development of several vowels in the Happy Valley- Goose Bay vowel system. In this community the migrant generation showed evidence of mixing. The frst generation showed the most evidence of levelling along with the emergence of new distinctions. The second generation showed some evidence of levelling, the emergence of new distinctions, and in some cases a return to patterns present in the migrant generation. These results indicate that diferent vowels within a dialect can move through the stages of dialect contact at diferent rates due to the multitude of infuences on the process of dialect contact.

Restoring forests degraded by overabundant moose on the island of Newfoundland

Global forests are being degraded at an alarming rate; hence ecological restoration becomes an integral component ensuring future forest health. Beneficial effects of restoration will arise from scientifically based practices that are efficient and effective. On the island of Newfoundland, moose (Alces alces) have become overabundant since their introduction in early 1900’s. Intensive selective browsing by moose on foundation species such as balsam fir (Abies balsamea) interacts with natural insect disturbance and limits advanced regeneration, creating moose meadows. In this thesis, I focused on where and how active restoration should be implemented in Terra Nova National Park (Newfoundland, Canada) balsam fir forests within the context of the natural disturbance regime under conditions of overbrowsing. Environmental surveys and experimental seedling planting were carried out along a disturbance gradient from closed canopy forest to large insect-disturbed stands. To develop cost-effective and science-based planting protocols, several ground treatments were tested to enhance seedlings success: (1) control, field planting, (2) removal of the aboveground vegetation and (3) ground scarification. Results indicate that (1) priority for restoration should be given to insectdisturbed areas > 5 ha rather than smaller gaps, and (2) that active restoration should be implemented following scientifically determined field planting protocols, as no substantial benefit was detected following ground treatment. The recommendations arising for this thesis allow for the development of efficient and effective protocols towards the reestablishment of multi-aged balsam fir forests in Newfoundland.

Performing "Up The Shore": a stylistic analysis of Newfoundland Irish English vowels in the Ferryland dinner theatre

This study is a variationist sociolinguistic analysis of two speech styles, performance and interview, of a dinner theatre troupe in Ferryland on the Southern Shore of Newfoundland. Five actors and ten of their characters are analyzed to test if their vowels change across styles. The study adopts a variationist framework with a Community of Practice model, drawing on Bell’s audience and referee design to argue that the performers’ stage conventions and identity construction are influenced by a third person referee: the Idealized Authentic Newfoundlander (IAN). Under this view the goal of the performer is to both communicate with and entertain the audience, which requires different tactics when speaking. These tactics manifest phonetically and are discussed in a quantitative, statistical analysis of the acoustic measurements of the vowel tokens [variables FACE, KIT, LOT/PALM and GOAT lexical sets with Newfoundland Irish English (NIE) variants] and a qualitative discussion.

Current meter measurements from five moorings in the subpolar North Atlantic east of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland

The southwestern part of the subpolar North Atlantic east of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Flemish Cap is a crucial area for the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. Here the exchange between subpolar and subtropical gyre takes place, southward flowing cold and fresh water is replaced by northward flowing warm and salty water within the North Atlantic Current (NAC). As part of a long-term experiment, the circulation east of Flemish Cap has been studied by seven repeat hydrographic sections along inline image (2003-2011), a 2 year time series of current velocities at the continental slope (2009-2011), 19 years of sea surface height, and 47 years of output from an eddy resolving ocean circulation model. The structure of the flow field in the measurements and the model shows a deep reaching NAC with adjacent recirculation and two distinct cores of southward flow in the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC): one core above the continental slope with maximum velocities at mid-depth and the second farther east with bottom-intensified velocities. The western core of the DWBC is rather stable, while the offshore core shows high temporal variability that in the model is correlated with the NAC strength. About 30 Sv of deep water flow southward below a density of sigma-theta = 27.68 kg/m**3 in the DWBC. The NAC transports about 110 Sv northward, approximately 15 Sv originating from the DWBC, and 75 Sv recirculating locally east of the NAC, leaving 20 Sv to be supplied by the NAC from the south.

Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus minimus) distribution and habitat use in a montane forest landscape of western Newfoundland, Canada

Once abundant, the Newfoundland Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus minimus) has declined by as much as 95% since 1975. Underlying cause(s) of this population collapse are not known, although hypotheses include loss of winter habitat and the introduction of red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) to Newfoundland. Uncertainties regarding habitat needs are also extensive, and these knowledge gaps are an impediment to conservation. We investigated neighborhood (i.e., within 115 m [4.1 ha]) and landscape scale (i.e., within 1250 m [490.8 ha]) habitat associations of Gray-cheeked Thrush in a 200-km² study area in the Long Range Mountains of western Newfoundland, where elevations range from 300-600 m and landcover was a matrix of old growth fir forest, 6- to 8-year-old clearcuts, coniferous scrub, bogs, and barrens. Thrushes were restricted to elevations above ~375 m, and occurrence was strongly positively related to elevation. Occurrence was also positively related to cover of tall scrub forest at the neighborhood scale, and at the landscape scale showed curvilinear relations with the proportion of both tall scrub and old growth forest that peaked with intermediate amounts of cover. Occurrence of thrushes was also highest when clearcuts made up 60%-70% of neighborhood landcover, but was negatively related to cover of clearcuts in the broader landscape. Finally, occurrence was highest in areas having 50% cover of partially harvested forest (strip cuts or row cuts) at the neighborhood scale, but because this treatment was limited to one small portion of the study area, this finding may be spurious. Taken together, our results suggest selection for mixed habitats and sensitivity to both neighborhood and landscape-scale habitat. More research is needed on responses of thrushes to forestry, including use of older clearcuts, partially harvested stands, and precommercially thinned clearcuts. Finally, restriction of thrushes to higher elevations is consistent with the hypothesis that they have been impacted by squirrels, because squirrels were rare or absent at these elevations.

The Influence of Geological Process on Interpreting Ediacaran Fossils in the Catalina Formation, Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland

Understanding the nature of the earliest complex fossils has presented many challenges over the past century since Billings first described Ediacaran fossils from Newfoundland in 1872. Previous studies have documented abundant Ediacaran fossils in the Bonavista Peninsula of Newfoundland. This thesis focuses on the H14 surface north of Catalina, which contains a nearly monospecific assemblage that includes hundreds of specimens of the rangeomorph, Fractofusus andersoni. Three factors need to be considered when trying to interpret these organisms. The first of these three factors is structural deformation. The area has undergone deformation during the formation of the Appalachian orogenic belt. This has distorted both fossil shape and orientation, requiring retrodeformation to restore the shapes and relationships of fossils to their original form. Two additional taphonomic factors influencing fossil visibility are: partly or completely ash covered fossils and the removal of fossil impressions from the bedding plane by modern weathering. These processes hinder acceptance of some previously published interpretations.

A postcolonial queer analysis of aboriginal queer clients' experiences of health care services in St. John's, Newfoundland

This thesis examines the gaps between health care services aimed at Aboriginal queer individuals living in St. John’s, Newfoundland and their health care needs. I used a multi-methods research design that includes interviews and demographic surveys, unobtrusive observation and qualitative content analysis. I conducted semi-structured interviews with institutional representatives from selected health related organizations – Eastern Health, Planned Parenthood Newfoundland and Labrador, the AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador, and St. John’s Native Friendship Center; as well as a transgender activist and three people who identify as Aboriginal and queer. I conducted observational research at two public seminars on Aboriginal people and health. Finally, I carried out qualitative content analysis of organizational reports and webpages of the selected community organizations. Using a postcolonial queer framework that analyzes how Newfoundland and Labrador’s colonial history is reflected in current health care realities I argue that the lack of appropriate services and culturally insensitive delivery of services reproduce the historical marginalization of an already vulnerable group.

Scope & nature of young sudden cardiac death in Newfoundland & Labrador

Introduction: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young people (ages 2-40) is a tragedy for families and communities alike. It has multiple causes, one of which is an underlying genetic arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. A study from Ontario (ON) using a 2008 cohort assessed the incidence of SCD in persons aged 2-40 years to be 2.64/100,000 person-years. We hypothesized that Newfoundland & Labrador (NL) may have a higher incidence of early SCD in ages 2-40 due to possible underlying genetic causes given the historical genetic isolation of the population and the founder mutations already identified (ex. PKP2, RYR2, TMEM43). Methods: We ascertained cases of sudden death from the comprehensive Medical Examiners’ provincial database for the years 2008 and 1997; 2008 as a direct comparison to ON, and 1997 as it represented a time when the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was not available in NL. Each case of sudden death was individually analyzed to determine likelihood of SCD. Results: There were 119 cases in 2008 and 157 cases in 1997. The incidence of SCD for ages 2-40 in 2008 was 7.32/100,000 persons. This was significantly higher than the incidence in Ontario. The incidence of SCD was not significantly higher in 1997 than 2008. Coronary artery disease was a major cause of death in all cohorts, similar to Ontario (non-significant difference). Conclusion: In general, there was a trend of more arrhythmogenic deaths in the young and more structural cardiac deaths as age increased. This reflects the cause of SCD in the young is often genetic in nature, while older deaths are often due to coronary artery disease, a disease heavily influenced by environment. To conclude, SCD in NL occurs at a higher incidence than ON, further research is needed on the topic.

The development and preliminary testing of an instrument to measure the perceived economic burden of a subtype of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) on patients and families in Newfoundland

The goal of this thesis was to develop, construct, and validate the Perceived Economic Burden scale to quantitatively measure the burden associated with a subtype Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in families from the island of Newfoundland. An original 76 item self-administered survey was designed using content from existing literature as well as themes from qualitative research conducted by our team and distributed to individuals of families known to be at risk for the disease. A response rate of 37.2% (n = 64) was achieved between December 2013 and May 2014. Tests for data quality, Likert scale assumptions and scale reliability were conducted and provided preliminary evidence of the psychometric properties of the final constructed perceived economic burden of ARVC scale comprising 62 items in five sections. Findings indicated that being an affected male was a significant predictor of increased perceived economic burden in the majority of economic burden measures. Affected males also reported an increased likelihood of going on disability and difficulty obtaining insurance. Affected females also had an increased perceived financial burden. Preliminary results suggest that a perceived economic burden exists within the ARVC population in Newfoundland.